Anti-siphon manual diverter



April 10, 1956 R. E. BLETCHER ETAL 2,741,253

ANTI-SIPHON MANUAL DIVERTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 2, 1952 INVENTORS fF/iZPH E. FLETCHER hFV/G a. WARD April 10, 1956 R. E. BLETCHER ETAL ANTI-SIPHON MANUAL DIVERTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 2, 1952 INVENTORS BLETCHE/I? H. WHED HTTOE/VEVS.

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ANTI-SIPHON MANUAL DIVERTER Ralph E. Bletcher and Irving A. Ward, Los Angeles, Calif., assignors to Modern Faucet lvlfg. Co, Les Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Application May 2, 1952, Serial No. 285,762 7 Claims. or. 137-217 This invention relates to a manual anti-siphon diverter, that is, to a cliverter valve adapted to be placed between a water supply and a pair of outlets to direct water to one or the other outlets.

One object of this invention is to provide diverter means which will not permit siphonage from either outlet to the water supply in the event of a reduced pressure in said water supply.

A further object of this invention is to provide diverter means which is compact, inexpensive to manufacture and retains the features of efiiciency and dependability.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide diverter means which are positively controlled, to select which of multiple outlets will be supplied from a suitable water supply.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following specification:

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of a fixture embodying this invention.

i ure 2 is a partial side elevation in section of one embodiment of this invention in the spray supplying position taken along line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section taken along line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a partial side elevation in section of the embodiment of Figure 2 in the spout supplying position.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the control valve.

Figure 6 is a side elevation partially in section of a modification of this invention.

Figure 7 is a side elevation partially in section of a further modification of this invention in the spray supply position.

Figure 8 is a section taken along line S8 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a partial side elevation in section of the modification of Figure 7 in the spout supply position.

Referring now to Figures 1 to 5, the diverter is illustrated as included in a fixture 10 having hot and cold water inlets 12 and 14 controlled by faucets 16 and 18. Water passes through a mixing chamber into a water inlet pipe passage 22 and is directed by diverter 24 through the spray outlet valve 26 or out the spout 28. This invention is concerned with the structure of the diverter 24.

The mixing chamber has an outlet formed by the tubular extension 30 which telescopically receives the water inlet pipe 32. A nut 34 screws onto the extension 38, holding sealing member 36, forming a water tight seal between inlet pipe 32 and extension 30. The inlet pipe 32 surrounds the spray outlet tube 38 which propects through the fixture l9 and is connected to the spray outlet by suitable means such as a flexible tubing 49. A water tight seal 42 of any suitable type is provided where the tube 38 projects through the fixture 10.

The upper extremity of inlet pipe 32 is threaded externally onto which the spout body 44 is screwed and a ported partition 46 is clamped between these two members so that water flow from mixing chamber passes through ports 48 into the chamber 50 formed in spout body 44. The spray outlet tube 38 terminates at the ported partition andis internally threaded to receive hollow screw 52, which screw is illustrated as having a shoulder 54 clamping the ported partition between the screw and tube 38.

Carried by the screw is a cup 56 which has a centrally located aperture 58 of sufiicient size to permit the cup to move vertically but smaller than the enlarged head :69 on the sc ew. Thus the cup 56 functions as a check valve element closing off the ports 48 in ported partition 46 when the cup is in the lowered position due to a reduced pressure in the mixing chamber caused by the water being shut off or by a back pressure or siphon resulting from a reduced pressure in the water supply. This check valve prevents water from being siphoned back from either water outlet under any conditions as will be described more fully hereafter.

When water flows into the chamber 50 the pressure retains the cup in the upper position illustrated in Figure 2 and the cup acts as a shield for the preferably resilient control valve 59, preventing a sudden force being applied vertically upon this valve with resultant possible injury to this control valve. The control valve is tapered at its lower extremity 62 to project into the tapered opening 64 of the screw 52, thereby shutting off flow to the spray outlet when in the lowered position. The upper extremity 66 of the control valve 59 is larger than the spout outlet 68 from chamber 58, so that flow from the spout 28 is shut off when the control valve is in its upper position.

The position of the control valve is controlled by lift stem 69 which has a knob 70 fixed thereon to permit it to be lifted manually. The lift stem projects through an aperture 72 and a bushing 74 retains suitable packing 76 around stem 69 to form a water tight seal. To add weight to the lift stem a valve control member 78 is attached thereto inside the spout 28. This weighted member urges the stem downwardly to the position seen in Figure 4, where water is supplied to the spout. Projecting from the lower extremity of the member '78 is a control valve carrying rod 80 which has an enlarged head 82 formed thereon, which fits into a suitable chamber 84 formed in the resilient control valve 59.

The lift stem is normally in the lowered position seen in Figure 4 where the control valve projects into the screw 52, cutting off tlow to the spray and permitting flow to the spout. stem 69 is raised so that upper extremity functions as a washer or check valve element to cut oft" flow through the spout 23 and permit flow through the spray. The water pressure in chamber 50 will retain the control valve in this position until the flow of water to chamber 50 is cut off or the stem is manually returned to the lower position.

As hereinbefore described the control valve is loosely mounted upon the rod 30 and is movable with respect thereto. In the event that the lift stem 69 becomes stuck in the raised position and a reduced pressure forms in the water inlet, the control valve 59 will drop on rod 30 until the upper extremity contacts head 82. This movement opens the spout outlet and vents the chamber 50 avoiding any possible anti-siphon forming from chamber 50 to the potable water supply.

In the event of a reduced pressure in the water inlet 22 the cup 56 shuts off ports 43 preventing back siphoning into the water supply. The control valve 59 also drops to the lowered position dissipating any vacuum in chamber 56.

Referring now to Figure 6 wherein like parts serving the same function are given the same numerical designation. tween this and the principal embodiment lies .in the change in the control valve means. The spray outlet When it is desired to use the spray 26 the it is readily apparent that the difi'erence be-v V on one extremity to shut off flow to fitinto and seal off the flow through hollow screw '52. The spout outlet control valve is formed by a floating Washer 88 which. is limited in its upward movement by the. extremity of weight 73. and in its downward. movement by flange 9% formed on the upper surface of the spray outlet control'valve 8 This embodiment has the same anti-siphon guard and the spout outlet control valve 83 drops when the pressure in chamber Sil falls, thereby venting the chamber and preventing a back siphon from forming.

Referring now to Figures 7 to 9, afurther modifica tion is illustrated wherein like parts having the same functions as in the principal embodiment are given the same numerical designation. in this embodiment the cup 9.2 is. rigidly secured to hollow screw 94 and a washer of check valve 96 is loosely mounted for vertical movement on screw 94. This check valve is limited in its upward movement by cup 92 and in its downward movement by ported partition. When in its lower position the check valve 96 shuts off ports 43, preventing back siphon.

In this embodiment the control valve 98 is substantially the same as control valve 59 in the principal embodiment. However, it seats on the cup 92 shutting off flow to the spray outlet. Also a spring 100 is provided urging the control'valve 98 into its lowered position. Ports 102 may be provided in cup 92. These ports function to indicate if the check valve has been removed .or has deteriorated, the valve being preferably of rubber or the like. if either condition exists a leak at the spray outlet will result, advising the user of the fact that the device needs repair.

It is readily apparent that alterations and modifications can be resorted to Without departing from the scope of this invention and such alterations and modifications re intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. In an anti-siphon diverter valve mounted within a body defining a chamber having a spout outlet and an opposed spray outlet and a water inlet to said chamber surrounding said spray outlet the combination of: check valve means'adapted to shut off said inlet and prevent backflow from said chamber to said inlet, a control valve lift stem, and control valve means carried by said lift stem. operable to shutofi flow through said spray outlet in one position and said spout outlet in a second position, and said valve lift stem dropping when water flow to said chamber is' discontinued opening said spout outlet and closing said spray outlet, water pressure in said chamber retaining said control valve in the spout closing position when moved=to this position by said'lift stem.

2'. In an anti-siphon diverter valvemounted within a body defining a chamber having a spout outlet and an opposed spray outlet and a water inlet to said cham her surrounding said spray outlet the combination of: a hollow'screw forming an extension of said spray outlet, a floating check valve element operable in a lowered' position to shut off flow through said inlet preventing baclcllow from said chamber to said inlet and restricted in vertical movement by said screw, a control valve lift stern, control valve member carried by said lift stem, said control valve member being tapered through said spray outlet when lowered into contact with said screw, said control valve being'formed on the opposite extremity toshut off flow through said spout outlet when raised by said lift stern, and said control valve being movable on said lift stem to vent said chamber throughsaid spout inlet inresponse to a reduced pressure formed in said water inlet and said valve lift stem remains in a raised position;

3. In an anti-siphon diverter valve mounted within a bodydefining 'a chamber having a spout outlet and an opposed spray outlet and a water inlet to said chamber surrounding said spray outlet the combination of: check valve means adapted to shut oftsaid inlet and prevent backflow from said chamber to said inlet, a control valve lift stem, and by said lift stem operable to shut off flow through said spray outlet in one position and said spout outlet in a second position, and said valve lift stem dropping when water how to said chamber is discontinued opening said spout outlet and closing said spray outlet, water pressure in said retaining said control valve in the spout closing position when moved to this position by said lift stem, and said control. valve means being loosely mounted on said lift stem for movement relative thereto when a reduced pressure forms in said inlet and said lift stem fails to return to the spout opening position to vent said chamber through said spout outlet and prevent formation of aback siphon through said water inlet.

4. In an anti-siphon diverter valve mounted within a body defining a chamber having a spout outlet and an opposed spray outlet and a water inlet to said chamber surrounding saidspray outlet the combination of: a cup rigidly secured to said spray outlet, a floating check valve surrounding said spray outlet restricted in upward movement by said cup and shutting off said water inlet in the lower position preventing flow from said chamber through said inlet, a control valve lift stem, a control valve member carried by said lift stem, said control valve member formed at one extremity to seat in said cup shutting off flow through said spray outlet, said control valve being formed on the opposite extremity to shut off flow through said spout outlet when raised by said lift stem, and said control valve being movable relative to said control stem to vent said chamberwhen a reduced pressure forms in said water inlet and said lift stem remains in a raised position.

5. In an anti-siphon diverter valve mounted within a body defining a chamber having a spout outlet and an opposed spray outlet and a water inlet to said chamber surrounding said spray outlet the combination of: a hollow screw forming an extension of said spray outlet, a floating check valve element operable in a lowered position to shut off flow through said inlet preventing backflow from said chamber'to said inlet and restricted in ver tical movement by said screw, a lift stem, a spray outlet control valve carried by said stem shutting off flow through said spray outlet when said lift stem is in a lowered position, and a floating check valve carried on said lift stem above said spray outlet control valve shutting off flow through said spout outlet when said lift stem is raised and venting saidchamber when a reduced pressure forms in said water inlet.

6. In an anti-siphon diverter, valve mounted within a body defining a chamber having a spout outlet and an opposed spray outlet and a water inlet to said chamber surrounding said spray outlet the combination of: a cup rigidly secured to said spray outlet, a floating check valve surrounding said spray outlet restricted in upward movement by said cup and shutting off said water inlet in the lower position preventing flow from said chamber through said inlet, a control valve lift stem, a control valve member carried. by said lift stem, said. control valve member formed at one extremity to. seat in said cup shutting off flow through said: spray outlet, said control valve being formed on the opposite extremity to shut off flow through said spout outlet. when raised by saidlift stem, and said controlvalvebeing movable relative to said control stem to vent said chamber when a reduced pressure forms in said'water inlet and said lift stem remains in a raised position, ports in said cupcl'osed by said check valve when water flows into said chamber.

7; In ananti-siphon diverter valve mounted within a bodydefining-a chamber having a spout outlet and an opposed sprayoutlet and a water inletto' said chamber control valve means carried surrounding said spray outlet the combination of: check valve means adapted to shut 05 said inlet and prevent backflow from said chamber to said inlet, control valve means operable in one position to shut oif flow to said spout outlet and in a second position to shut off flow to said spray outlet, means for manually positioning said control valve and means to vent said chamber through said spout inlet in response to a reduced pressure formed in said Water inlet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,532,434 Mueller Apr. 7, 1925 6 Bletcher et al Sept. 20, 1932 Judell Sept. 12, 1937 Smith Oct. 22, 1940 Bucknell et a1 Mar. 16, 1943 Jurisich Jan. 10, 1950 Jaegle Oct. 2, 1951 Bletcher Mar. 4, 1952 Bletcher Aug. 26, 1952 

